From Smallville to Captain America?

by Jim Vejvoda

February 10, 2010 - Joe Johnston, the director of The First Avenger: Captain America, recently revealed that the casting of the title role in the forthcoming Marvel movie is down to five or six actors between the ages of 23-32. A casting decision is expected to be made before Johnston leaves for London on March 1 to begin pre-production on the film, which starts shooting there in June.

Big Shiny Robot claims to have heard that three TV actors have read for the role of Cap, two of whom are within the age range that Johnston gave for the half-dozen finalists. Again, the site says these three actors have read for the part, not that any of them got it or are even the frontrunners for it.

First up is Supernatural star Jensen Ackles, who turns 32 next month. He's got experience in live-action comic book productions, having previously appeared as "Jason Teague" on Smallville. His other credits include the TV series Dark Angel and the recent 3D remake of My Bloody Valentine.

Next is Chad Michael Murray, 29, the former star of One Tree Hill whose credits also include the TV series Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls and the feature films House of Wax, Freaky Friday and Home of the Brave. Murray's previous stab at playing a masked hero was as the title character in the 2003 TV revival of The Lone Ranger.

The third actor rumored to have read for Cap is Ryan McPartlin, a.k.a. Chuck's "Captain Awesome." McPartlin also played a superhero in the 2003 comic book comedy Super Capers. But at 35, McPartlin is older than the actors Johnston said were among the handful of finalists for the role.

Source : Movies.Ign.Com